I have two ideas for you this year as the U.S. celebrates another Thanksgiving holiday. This year, as I sit in a rather small but love-filled circle of family for a yummy feast, I’m going to ask this question of us all:
What might you be missing in your gratitude?
What do you enjoy or benefit from often, or even in your day-to-day life, that you forget to be grateful for.
Most of us easily express gratitude for our loved ones, friends, health, home, and career. But what if we lived elsewhere… in a part of the world where people would experience many of our daily activities as luxuries. How would your gratitude change?
Here’s my perspective:
I’m grateful I have clean water. That I can take a hot shower, fill a glass to drink right from my kitchen’s tap, use it to cook healthy meals, and even sprinkle my green lawn.
I’m grateful for my cozy home that I can heat in the winter and cool in the summer. That includes a comfortable bed, nice furniture, clean floors, many modern conveniences and even a cheerful, fun decor.
I’m grateful I have easy transportation that I can hop into at any time.
I’m grateful to be surrounded by beauty – tall trees, Lake Michigan, and a big, blue sky.
I’m grateful that I can easily buy healthy groceries for my family.
I’m grateful for how easily I’m able to access technology to assist my life and do fun things with like watch movies and surf the net.
I’m grateful to live in a safe area with kind neighbors and in a safe country where I have the freedom to be who I am.
I’m grateful for all the opportunities I have to learn and grow as an individual – whether that’s in professional or personal ways.
I’m grateful for YOU – people who remain connected to me and my work, people who also like to grow and become happier, people who are contributing to the world in a positive way.
And, of course, I’m grateful for my kiddos, my family, and my friends. I’m grateful to have a home, career, and lifestyle that brings me joy and fulfillment.
What are you grateful for? Think outside the box a bit… think about what you might be overlooking.
XO and Happy Thanksgiving!
Idea #2 – just in case you’re looking for something new to try at the feast this year!
I’ve done this in the past, and it was a big hit. Give everyone a blank piece of paper – something pretty or Thanksgiving-y is extra nice. Each person writes his/her name in the center, then leaves it someone in the house with a pen near it. As the day goes by, everyone walks around to find each paper. On it they write a reason they’re grateful for the person whose name is on the paper. By dinner time or perhaps when it’s nearly time to go home – you provide each person with their paper… filled with loving, appreciative, kind sentiments of gratitude from everyone else at the party. So.much.FUN! xo